Arkansas opens exhibition season with 106-78 win

NWA Media/ MICHAEL WOODS --11/02/2012 -- University of Arkansas forward Marshawn Powell goes up for a lay up over Southwest Baptist defender Jaywuan Hill as he drives to the hoop in the first half of Friday night's game at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE  Five players scored in double figures, leading Arkansas to a 106-78 win over Southwest Baptist (Mo.) in a preseason exhibition Friday at Bud Walton Arena.

Anthlon Bell scored 17 points and Marshawn Powell added 16 for the Razorbacks in their first of two exhibition games. Arkansas hit 52.8 percent of its shots and 24 of 26 free throws.

The Razorbacks built a 50-28 lead at halftime, hitting 67 percent of their first half field goal attempts. Arkansas forced 16 first half turnovers and scored 31 points off 26 turnovers overall.

Bell, a freshman, connected on all three of his 3-point attempts, accounting for half of the Razorbacks makes from beyond the arc. Powell scored 16 points, including nine after halftime.

Rickey Scott and Hunter Mickelson each scored 11 points, while Michael Qualls added 10. Qualls had four highlight reel dunks, including one just before the halftime buzzer.

BJ Young scored 9 points off the bench for Arkansas and tied for a team-high with 4 assists.

The Razorbacks held Southwest Baptist to 32.1 percent shooting in the first half, but struggled defensively after halftime. The Bearcats connected on 53 percent of their shots after the break, including a 17-9 run over a 3-minute span against a set that included four Arkansas newcomers.

Arkansas will face LeMoyne-Owen in its final exhibition of the preseason on Monday. The Razorbacks open the regular season next Friday against Sam Houston State.

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Matt Jones

Matt Jones has been the online sports editor for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since 2010. He is also a feature writer for Hawgs Illustrated magazine and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in journalism.